Invisible hinge device for doors or the like

ABSTRACT

THIS DISCLOSURE PROVIDES AN INVISIBLE HINGE DEVICE FOR MOUNTING AT LEAST ONE DOOR LEAF AT AN END FACE OF A FRAME WALL MEMBER. A FIRST HINGE MEMBER IS MOUNTED ON THE DOOR LEAF AND A SECOND HINGE MEMBER IS MOUNTED ON THE FRAME WALL MEMBER. A LEVER MEMBER AND A LINK MEMBER ARE ATTACHED AT EACH END THEREOF TO A RESPECTIVE HINGE MEMBER. THE LEVER MEMBER AND LINK MEMBER ARE PIVOTALLY CONNECTED ABOUT A COMMON PIN MEMBER TO EFFECT A TONGS-LIKE MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER WHEN THE DOOR LEAF IS DEFLECTED FROM A CLOSED POSITION. THE LINK AND LEVER MEMBERS INCLUDE ANGLED END PORTIONS ATTACHED TO THE HINGE MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE DOOR LEAF. THE HINGE DEVICE OF THIS DISCLOSURE IS UNIVERSALLY ADAPTABLE TO ARTICLES HAVING VARIOUS THICKNESSES OF FRAME WALL MEMBERS AND DOOR LEAVES.

Dec. 14, 1971 H. GRUNERT 3,626,548

INVISIBLE HINGE DEVICE FOR DOORS OR THE LIKE Filed June 18, 1969 I2 Sheets-Shoot 1 FIG.)

. INYENTOR HLLMUTH GRUNERT Dec. 14, 1971 H. GRUNERT 3,626,548

INVISIBLE HINGE DEVICE FOR DOORS OR THE LIKE Filed June 18, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 //v VENTOR HE'LLMUTH GR UNERT United States Patent 3,626,548 INVISIBLE HINGE DEVICE FOR DOORS OR THE LIKE Hellmuth Grunert, Holfnungstal, Germany, assignor to Prameta Prazisionsmetallund Kunststofferzeugnisse G. Baumann & Co., Cologne-Ostheim, Germany Filed June 18, 1969, Ser. No. 834,290

Claims priority, application Germany, June 22, 1968,

Int. Cl. E05d 3/06, 7/04 US. Cl. 16-166 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure provides an invisible hinge device for mounting at least one door leaf at an end face of a frame wall member. A first hinge member is mounted on the door leaf and a second hinge member is mounted on the frame wall member. A lever member and a link member are attached at each end thereof to a respective hinge member. The lever member and link member are pivotally connected about a common pin member to effect a tongs-like movement with respect to each other when the door leaf is deflected from a closed position. The link and lever members include angled end portions attached to the hinge member mounted on the door leaf. The hinge device of this disclosure is universally adaptable to articles having various thicknesses of frame wall members and door leaves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Invisible hinge devices of the type disclosed in this invention are generally known in the prior art. That is, the hinge element is mounted on the end face of a frame Wall structure and on the door leaf. Two angle levers are attached at either end thereof to the respective hinge elements and are connected together in a tongs-like manner. One end of each of the levers is fixedly articulated to one of the hinge elements and displaceably mounted at the other end thereof in guideways located in the hinge elements. In these prior art arrangements, the limbs of the angle levers which extend up to the pivot pins engaging in the guideways are relatively long. The guideways or grooves existing in the prior art devices extend in such a manner that their inner points are disposed to be spaced relatively far apart from the non-displaceable articulation points located on the hinge elements. A combined pivoting and pushing movement between the angle levers is effected during the entire deflection of the door leaf.

There are tWo basic disadvantages to the known hinge devices. First, they can be used only with relatively small frame wall structures. Therefore, the hinge devices of the prior art may be adapted to a limited number of furniture articles. In addition, the prior art invisible hinge devices as discussed hereinabove may be subjected to relatively small loads during their use.

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION The primary object of this invention is to provide an invisible hinge device which is universally adaptable on all thicknesses of wall members and door leaves.

Another object of this invention is to provide an invisible hinge device which may be subjected to greater loads than any device of this type known in the prior art.

A further object of this invention is to provide an adjustable means for mounting a hinge element on a frame Wall member so that it may be displaced in a direction substantially perpendicular to the frame wall.

Patented Dec. 14, 1971 These objects and other advantages corresponding to the purpose of the invention are readily achieved by the invisible hinge device made in accordance with this invention. A hinge element extends with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the frame wall at the end face thereof. In a specific embodiment of this invention, the hinge member attached to the frame wall may be adjusted along the perpendicular axis thereof. The adjustable mounting means includes an angle member which is fixedly attached to the frame wall. Adjustment surfaces located on a portion of the angle member and along a portion of the hinge element bear against one another. Fastening means are used to releasably engage the adjustment surfaces of the respective parts.

Another hinge element is fixedly attached to the door leaf and is connected to the hinge member mounted on the frame wall member by a link and lever arrangement. When the door leaf is in a closed position, the two hinge elements overlap one another. A link member and a lever member are pivotally connected about a common pin member. They effect a tongs-like movement with respect to each other when the door leaf is deflected from a closed position. A specific feature of this invention is directed to the use of angled end portions on the link and lever members. The lever member end portion is connected at one end of the hinge member which is secured to the door leaf. A guideway such as a groove is located in the door leaf hinge member and extends from the one end adjacent the connection point of the lever member to the other end of the hinge element. The link member is slidably connected to the guideway and moves therein when the door leaf is deflected from the closed position. In the closed position, the end of the link member is disposed at the end of the guideway away from the connection point of the lever member. It is thereby offset relative to the connection point of the lever member and located on the inner side of the hinge element juxtaposed the door leaf structural material.

The link and lever arrangement of this invention provides a combined, constrained pivoting and thrusting movement which ends when the deflection of the door leaf is effected to a position substantially normal to the closed position. That is, the opening angle of the door leaf is about Further opening of the door leaf to an angle that is greater than the 90 opening angle is effected by pivoting the door leaf about the articulation point of the lever member connected to the door leaf hinge member. While this rotary movement is effected about the articulation point, the slidably connected end of the link member moves along the guideway located in the door leaf hinge member. Furthermore, the movement of the lever member with respect to the link member is substantially eliminated during this portion of the deflection by the door leaf.

Another feature of this invention provides an adjustable mounting assembly for the hinge element attached to the frame wall member. The mounting assembly includes an angle member which is fixedly attached to the frame wall structure. The hinge element includes a projection portion having a serrated adjustment surface which contacts another adjustment surface located on the angle member. In a specific embodiment of this feature, projecting centering pins are located on the angle member to insure the fixed positioning of the angle member with respect to the frame wall structure. Where two door leaves are mounted at the end face of a middle wall structure, angle members may be placed on each side of the frame wall and fixedly attached thereto by fastening means extending completely through the wall structure. In this type of an arrangement, a spacer member may be disposed between the angle member and the frame wall to provide the spacing necessary to mount two door leaves side by side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a mounted invisible hinge device made in accordance with this invention shown in an open position,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a mounted invisible hinge device according to FIG. 1 shown in the closed position,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an angle member which is used to secure the hinge device to the frame wall,

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the angle member of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is an end view of the angle member of FIG. 3 and FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of an arrangement having two angle members mounted on each side of a middle wall for mounting two door leaves thereon.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS More specifically, the invisible hinge device of this invention includes a frame hinge element 7' and a door leaf hinge element 11' attached to the stationary frame wall 2 and door leaf 1, respectively. The frame hinge element 7 is attached at the end face of the frame wall 2 and has its longitudinal axis extending perpendicular thereto. The door leaf hinge element 11 has a flange 11a which is used to fixedly attach the hinge member 11' in a recess at the edge of the door leaf 1.

The invisible hinge also includes a lever member 3' and a link member 4 which are connected at each end thereof to a respective hinge member. One end of the lever member 3' is pivotally mounted on the pin 6 in the frame hinge element 7'. The cranked end portion 9 of the lever member 3' is attached to the pivot pin 10'. The link member 4' includes an angled end portion 13 which is attached to the guide pin 14'. The link member 4 may thereby be displaced in the guideway 15 located in the overlapping portion of the door leaf hinge element 11. The other end of the link member 4' is fixedly mounted at the pivot pin 12' in the frame hinge member 7'.

The lever member 3' and the link member 4' are pivotal about a common pivot pin 5 in a tongs-like manner. The pivot pin 5' is fixedly connected to the link member 4'. The pivot pin 5 is displaceable in the guideway 17 located in the overlapping portion of the frame hinge member 7'. The lever member 3 is plate-shaped and includes a slot 8 which engages the common pin member 5. The slot 8 thereby provides a guideway for the pin 5 as the lever member 3 and link member 4 change positions with respect to each other. In this specific embodiment, the overlapping portion of the frame hinge member 7' is vertically disposed between the link member 4' and the lever member 3'.

The guideway 15' located in the door leaf hinge element 11' extends along a diagonal of the overlapping portion from the pivot point 16' to a location disposed in the direction toward the inner side of the door leaf hinge element juxtaposed the structural material of the door leaf 1. When the door leaf 1 is in the closed position, the pivot point 16' is located at the other end of the guideway 15' which is offset relative to the articulation point 10' of the lever member 3'. The frame hinge element 7 includes a recess 71: which receives the angled end portion 13' when the door leaf 1 is in a closed position.

In this specific embodiment, the frame hinge element 7 is adjustably mounted in a substantially horizontal direction along the end face of the frame wall member 2. An angle member 21 includes a base limb 30 and a securing limb 22 which projects perpendicularly therefrom. Projecting centering pins 33 and 34 are located on the under side of the base limb 30 and engage the recesses 35 and 36 respectively. The wood screws 37 extend through the slots 31 and 32 and fixedly attach the angle member 21 to the frame 2. The centering pins 33 and 34 prevent the displacement of the angle member 21 with respect to the frame wall member 2.

A slot or elongated aperture 23 is located along the securing limb 22. The end face 24 includes transversely extending serrations 25 to form an adjustment surface. This adjustment surface is disposed in face-to-face engagement with the transversely extending serrations 27 located on the projecting attachment 26.

The screw bolt 28 extends through the slot or elongated aperture 23 into a threaded bore 29 located in the frame hinge element 7. By loosening the screw bolt 28, the serrations 25 and 27 are disengaged from each other. The frame hinge member 7' may then be displaced along the end face 24 by any desired amount. It is obvious that the total releasing of the screw bolt 28 may effect the removal of the entire hinge and door leaf 1 from the angle member 21. Since the serrations 25 and 26- extend in the vertical direction, the exact horizontal alignment of the door leaf 1 with respect to the frame member 2 is guaranteed when the screw bolt 28 is tightly fastened.

The mounting of two door leaves 1 on a common central wall member 2a is shown in FIG. 6. Spacer members 38 are located between the angle members 21 and each side of the central wall 2a. The spacer members 38, in this instance, have centering pins (not numbered) which engage the frame wall 2a. Recesses (not numbered) located on the other side of the spacer members 38 engage centering pins 33 and 34 of the angle members 21. Screw bolts 39 extend completely through the two angle members 21 and the wall member 2a. In this specific embodiment, the screw bolts 39 have one portion which constitutes a sleeve having an internal screw thread. The other portion of the screw bolt 39 includes a threaded rod portion which screws into the threaded sleeve. The hair gap 40 located between the door leaves 1 may be readily adjusted through the adjustment made between the hinge projecting portion 26 and the angle members 21.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION The invisible hinge device of this invention provides several advantages over prior art hinge devices of this type. When used on the doors of cabinets or cupboards, the butt-closing doors may be either opened through 180 or opened through only Where there is a very close side-by-side relationship between adjacent cabinets, the doors thereof may be opened through 90 without striking each other. Since the pivot point for the door leaf is shifted forwardly for a distance away from the frame 2, it is seen that the door leaf 1 may be constructed of relatively thick material. That is, the door leaf 1 may be from about 20 to 30 mm. thick and therefore the invisible hinge device of this invention may be used with conventional timber doors.

The specific design of the lever and link arrangement enables the use of the hinge device of this invention on relatively heavy doors. In addition, the hinge device is capable of taking additional loading thereon.

A substantial degree of compensation may be effected if the frame 2 or door leaf 1 warps, due to the adjustability features of the hinge device of this invention.

In prior art hinge devices, the releasing of the frame hinge element causes the entire hinge to be loosened from the frame wall member 2. However, the use of the angle member 21 as provided in the instant application enables the door leaf 1 to be removed from the frame wall 2 without having to remove the mounting means from the wall member 2. The novel mounting means used to mount this hinge device to the frame Wall 2 provides subsequent adjustment and alignment above and/or below the door leaf with respect to the frame member 2 which has not heretofore been available in the prior art.

While the invisible hinge device for doors or the like has been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to be considered as being limited to the exact form disclosed, and that changes in detail and construction may be made therein within the scope of the invention, without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. An invisible hinge device for mounting at least one door leaf with an edge thereof at least partially overlapping the end face of a frame wall member when the door leaf is closed, said hinge device comprising (a) a first hinge member and means mounting said first hinge member on said door leaf,

(b) an angle member, and means for fixedly attaching it to one side of said frame wall member adjacent the end face thereof, said angle member having an adjustment surface thereon wihch is at a right angle with respect to said side of said frame wall member and substantially parallel to said end face when said angle member is secured in place, said adjustment surface having corrugations extending substantially parallel to said wall member,

(c) a second hinge member having a corresponding corrugated adjustment surface for engaging said ad justment surface of said angle member, whereby said second hinge member and said door leaf can be adjustably moved in a horizontal direction relative to said frame wall member and to locate the edge thereof in a desired overlapped position with respect to the end face of the wall member,

(d) means to tightly hold said adjustment surfaces in said desired relationship with respect to each other,

(e) each of said hinge members having overlapping portions which are registered with respect to each other when said door leaf is in a closed position,

(f) a lever member pivotally connected at each end thereof adjacent one end of each said hinge member,

(g) said first hinge member having a guideway extending from said one end adjacent the connected lever member through the overlapping portion thereof to the other end thereof,

(h) a link member pivotally attached at one end thereof to an articulation point on said second hinge member,

(i) said link member articulation point being laterally 5 displaced towards the end away from said lever member connection,

(j) the other end of said link member being slidably mounted in said first hinge member guideway,

(k) said lever member and said link member being pivotally connected about a common pin member to effect a tongs-like movement with respect to each other when said door leaf is deflected from said closed position.

2. A hinge device as defined in claim 1 wherein said angle member includes projecting pins to center said angle member and said one side of said frame wall member and prevent displacement of said angle member with respect to said frame wall member.

3. A hinge device as defined in claim 1 further comprises a spacer member located between said angle member and said frame member to provide an attachment to said one side of said frame member at an extended distance.

4. A hinge device as defined in claim 3 wherein there are two door leaves mounted at the end face of said frame wall member and one of said angle members is located on each side of the frame wall member and bolt means extend through the said angle members and the frame wall member to secure said angle members thereto.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,144,057 6/1915 Pearson et al. 16131 2,027,888 1/1936 Solomon 16130 2,973,547 3/1961 Heyer 16129 1,158,341 10/1915 Voelker 16-131 UX 2,615,194 10/1952 Kreiner 16-129 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,500,322 9/1967 France 16l66 PAUL R. GILLIAM, Primary Examiner US. 01. X.R. 

